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Ecosystem and Biodiversity (SCE3108)



  
Soil ecosystems (Soil Biota and Food Webs)


   

1. To enable students to identify and differentiate diversity of macro fauna from

different types of soils.
2. As a platform to students to gain experience with techniques for extraction of
soil organisms
3. To gain the ability to recognize characteristic traits of the major groups of soil
dwelling organisms
4. To enable students o practice basic microscopy skills
5. To increase students¶ understanding about the food web involved and the
functions of soil biota.

   

Everything in the natural world is connected. An   is a community of

living and non-living things that work together. Ecosystems have no particular size.
An ecosystem can be as large as a desert or a lake or as small as a tree or a puddle.
If you have a terrarium, that is an artificial ecosystem. The water, water temperature,
plants, animals, air, light and soil all work together. If ther e isn't enough light or water
or if the soil doesn't have the right nutrients, the plants will die. If the plants die,
animals that depend on them will die. If the animals that depend on the plants die,
any animals that depends on those animals will die. E cosystems in nature work the
same way. All the parts work together to make a balanced system .

Soil is a critical part of an ecosystem. It provides important nutrients for the

plants in an ecosystem. It helps anchor the plants to keep them in place. Soil absorbs
and holds water for plants and animals to use and provides a home for lots of living
organisms. 

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 A healthy ecosystem has lots of species diversity and is less likely to be
seriously damaged by human interaction, natural disasters and climate changes.
Every species has a niche in its ecosystem that helps keep the system healthy. We
are learning about new species every day, and we are just figuring out the roles they
play in the natural world. By studying and maintaining biodiversity, we help ke ep our
planet healthy.

The atmosphere provides oxygen and carbon dioxide for the plants and
animals in an ecosystem. The atmosphere is also part of the water cycle. Without the
complex interactions and elements in the atmosphere, there would be no life at all.

The heat and light from the sun are critical parts of an ecosystem. The sun's
heat helps water evaporate and return to the atmosphere where it is cycled back into
water. The heat also keeps plants and animals warm. Without light from the sun there
would be no photosynthesis and plants wouldn't have the energy they need to make
food.

 

1. Plastic bags
2. Retort stand
3. Petri dish
4. Torch light
5. Piece of cloth
6. Hand lens
7. Container
8. Measuring scale
9. Measuring cylinder
10. Forceps

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1. A measured volume of the leaf litter and topsoil are examined using a hand
lens.
2. Any fauna found is removed to a clean petri dish for identification according to
different groups ( with legs and no legs).
3. The number of each group is counted and results are tabulated. ( refer table 2
and 3 in results section)
4. The results from both tables are counted and calculated regarding the number
of Orders or groups per liter of soil and leaf litter. (refer table 4 in results
section

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1. A sample of leaf litter ( O Horizon) and topsoil (A Horizon) which is not deeper
than 3cm is collected from two different locations. It was choose from lawn,
native vegetation, garden bed, under species of trees or other distintive area.
2. The sample was placed in plastic bags, sealed and was labelled with group
name and collection location.
3. Both sites characteristics were tabulated in table 1 . ( refer Table 1 in Result
section)
4. In the lab, the soil and leaf litter sample from the same location were mix
thoroughly.
5. About 100g of both samples were placed in two different Tulgren funnel.
6. Leave the sample for two days.
7. After two days, the preserving jar containing ethanol is removed and the lid is
screwed.

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    Lawn Garden bed

‰   Low High

Ê 
  Very dry Wet

Ê 
 - -

Ê  
 Hard Loose

Ê    Sandy Soggy




    

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Ê   #$$$ % Ê   #$$$ %

Earthworm (1) Earthworm (3)

&
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Insect larvae (1) Insect larvae (1)

&
'( Ants (10) Termites (4)

Ants (13)

Spider (2)

Millipede (3)

Beetle (1)

Centipede (1)

Snail (1)

  12 29





 

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&
x'(  åo result found åo result found

&
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%

 
  
   

   

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%  12/1000 = 0.012 unit per 29/1000 = 0.029 unit per
g g

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x

% *(  2/1000 = 0.002 unit per g 4/1000 = 0.004 unit per g
!

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% *(! 10/1000 = 0.001 unit per 25/1000 = 0.025 unit per
g g

Table 4

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The biodiversity of macrofauna from the soils depend of type of ve getation and
soil hardness. This is because, lawn and garden bed have different texture of
soils which enable macrofauna to live in. for example, if the soil is quite hard
and dry, less species will make it their habitat due to lack of food, shelter and
not all macrofauna able to penetrate the hardness of the soils. This is different
with garden bed which prepared enough leaves litter and suitable environment
for them.

2. 
      .

Macrofauna play big roles to mixing and redistributing organic materials,

enhances soil physical properties, neutralize soil pH, Increase the availability
of many nutrients, stimulate microbial populations and may reduce levels of
harmful nematodes

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 If the organism at the top of the food chain die, the remaining below will face a
drastic increase and it will lead into higher compettition to get the food. This
may also lead to lack of consumer.

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1. Microscopic non-segmented roundworms

2. Ecologically diverse
3. Overall, 10-20 million/m-sq are found
4. Major consumer group
5. Both free-living and parasitic groups exist

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1. Important in mineralization and immobilization of å, P, and S

2. Most numerous soil fauna
3. Prey on microbes (especially bacteria)
4. Enhance nitrification rates

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 5. Suppress bacterial and fungal pathogens

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They ensure that soil pH is at stable level which is not too acidic and not
too alkaline. This is where they are using macrofauna as natural stabilizer
to neutralize the soil pH and make it healthy.

1) 
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If harnessed properly, soil biota helps maintaining the circulation of organic

materials besides ensure the stability of the soils. They provide a
consumer, predator and other function to natural interaction in the
ecosystem.

{
]iscussion:

1. Energy and nutrients are passed as one group of organisms feeds on another.

2. At the bottom level of the food web is the decaying organic matter in the soil that
ultimately came from plants. Roots are a source of nourishment for some organisms.

3. Feeding on the organic matter are bacteria, fungi, root-feeding nematodes,

microscopic round worms and other organisms.

4. Feeding on them are the first -level predators such as protozoa one-celled
organisms like amoebae, some species of nematodes and arthropods such as bugs
with jointed legs like mites and insects.

5. Bacteria are small bundles of protein with a high percentage of nitrogen. If the
nutrients they need are at the precise site of the bacterium, then bacterial metabolic
rate is unequaled. But everything has to be present, just like the c oal and oil at a
power plant.

6. Soil food web is a basis for life on the land. It breaks down dead plants and
animals and recycles nutrients. åumbers and varieties of organisms are staggering.
Reproduction rates are high especially bacteria, and populatio ns tend to boom and
bust with different levels of oxygen, nutrients, heat, pH and water. It¶s a complex
ecological relationships.

7. Soil food web is composed of several classes of organisms.

" Plants - roots and organic matter from plants.

" Bacteria and fungi - many varieties and functions. Most are
decomposers, while many others are mutualists.
" Other members of the food web - protozoa, nematodes, arthropods,
earthworms and higher predators.
" Predators eat other organisms and make nutrients available.

8. Soil food web is important for plant growth. It builds soil structure and stores
nutrients and releases them in forms plants can use. It also protects plants against
diseases and pests.

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